Imperfect Consecration
The sermon emphasizes the importance of complete consecration to God, warning against the dangers of imperfect consecration and highlighting the benefits of surrendering all to the Lord.
John Henry Jowett emphasizes the importance of complete consecration to the Lord, using the story of the rich young ruler who consecrated only a part but not the whole as an example. Jowett warns that reserving certain areas of our lives as 'private' and not fully surrendering to the Lord can hinder our relationship with Him, leading to a lack of power, assurance, joy, and peace. He shares how Dr. F. B. Meyer's ministry was affected because he kept back one key from the Lord, symbolizing incomplete consecration. True joy and the 'joy of the Lord' come when we surrender everything to Him, allowing Him to be the sole ruler of our lives and possessions.
Text
MATTHEW xix. 16-22.
The rich young ruler consecrated a part, but was unwilling to consecrate
the whole. He hallowed the inch but not the mile. He would go part of the
way, but not to the end. And the peril is upon us all. We give ourselves
to the Lord, but we reserve some liberties. We offer Him our house, but
we mark some rooms "Private." And that word "Private," denying the Lord
admission, crucifies Him afresh. He has no joy in the house so long as any
rooms are withheld.
Dr. F. B. Meyer has told us how his early Christian life was marred and
his ministry paralyzed just because he had kept back one key from the
bunch of keys he had given to the Lord. Every key save one! The key of one
room kept for personal use, and the Lord shut out. And the effects of the
incomplete consecration were found in lack of power, lack of assurance,
lack of joy and peace.
The "joy of the Lord" begins when we hand over the last key. We sit with
Christ on His throne as soon as we have surrendered all our crowns, and
made Him sole and only ruler of our life and its possessions.
Sermon Outline
- The Problem of Imperfect Consecration
- The Dangers of Reserving Liberties
- The Benefits of Complete Consecration
- The Joy of the Lord
- Sitting with Christ on His Throne
Key Quotes
“He has no joy in the house so long as any rooms are withheld.” — John Henry Jowett
“The 'joy of the Lord' begins when we hand over the last key.” — John Henry Jowett
“We sit with Christ on His throne as soon as we have surrendered all our crowns, and made Him sole and only ruler of our life and its possessions.” — John Henry Jowett
Application Points
- We must be willing to surrender all our possessions and liberties to the Lord for Him to have joy in our lives.
- Reserving some liberties or possessions for ourselves denies the Lord admission and crucifies Him afresh.
- Complete consecration leads to experiencing the 'joy of the Lord' and sitting with Christ on His throne.